Randall’s Ramblings – 10 Apr 2016

Baseball season’s underway again. I’m sure there are plenty of players and fans wishing the weather would catch up! I know we have 2-5 inches of sleet and snow predicted for today and flurries are falling as I type. Go Tigers!

Why I want to Write–What’s Led Me to This Stage in My Life

Who said writing was easy? Unless you naturally gifted, it takes a lot of effort to create a plot that grabs the reader, realistic characters you can love or hate, exciting dialogue, a smooth pace, and a fantastic ending.

That’s just the first draft. The real work begins later, as the writer starts from the beginning to craft a work of art. No easy task, but vital in the current age of traditional and self-publishing. A handful will be a huge success and reap the rewards, some will find a niche and make a living from their efforts, while many will have to dig deeper.

Above all, writing is a journey, plenty of new friends to make, roads to discover, places to visit, and astounding experiences. Enjoy the ride!

A bit more from the Kurdish Connection:

The bazaar bustled; horns blared, vendors hawked their wares, radios played a variety of songs. Bright-colored canopies created shade for the stalls, while along the edge of the bazaar, old wood buildings stood like sentries. Freshly painted buildings of pastel colors mingled with those needing repair.

“I love the bazaar.” Dersim inhaled, sucking in the smells. “Always an adventure. The whiff of roasting chestnuts and cooking meats always sets my mouth watering, even after I’ve eaten.”

Aram nodded. “Yes, everything’s available, from sweet dates to hand grenades. Whatever you want can be acquired here for the right price.”

More next week.

My Work in Progress

Work continues on reviewing various critiques I received on ‘The Kurdish Connection’ and adding recommendations into my manuscript. Editing of chapter four continues and will be posted over the next few days on the two subscription writing sites I use.

Between editing, reading and providing reviews and researching publishing houses that accept unsolicited manuscripts, there hasn’t been any time to work on ‘A Cartel’s Revenge. At least I prepared a cover letter and synopsis, both of which can be used as a basis to prepare a submission package.

I’ve been researching publishing houses that accept unsolicited manuscripts and figuring out how to prepare my cover letter and a good synopsis. My time spent researching meant I didn’t have a chance to work on ‘A Cartel’s Revenge’ as there are so many hours in the week I can devote to writing and the associated tasks.

Books I’m Reading

Over the past week I finished ‘How Little We Know’ by John L. DeBoer. I wish I’d spent less time with some of my research and more time reading this story. John’s crafted a real winner, with realistic characters, a plot that’ll keep the reader wanting more, with Luke Elliot, a reformed hit man leading the way. But every time you think you have it figured out, one of John’s characters will take you on a tangent, sometimes with unexpected results. A riveting story from a great storyteller. I personally he does a sequel with Luke.

Blogs/Author Pages/Writing Sites I’d Like to Share

I’ve now expanded this section from being only about blogs that I follow but also introduce you to some new authors and a few writing sites. Hope you’ll check out the links!

Writers Network Club – Established for writers to help writers. Free to join. Post your own work, advertise your publications in the bookstore, enter quarterly writing contests (multiple categories), and meet new people. Search for publishers, literary agents, and more.

I don’t have any specific writing resources to share this week. I’m still searching for something to capitalize on the use of the senses and to help me prepare the “dreaded” cover letter. Hope to have an update for next time.

We’ve come to the end of another ramble. Hope you’ve found something of interest or at least useful for your own writing. Until the next time, thank you for reading!